Baby pig diarrhea caused by coccidiosis

An outbreak of coccidiosis on two Belgian farms is described. Diarrhea started in piglets at 9 or 10 days of life. Zero to three pigs died per litter. The morbidity rate varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Histological examination of the intestines revealed shortening of villi and different stages of the life cycle of coccidia were seen in the enterocytes. Virological examination was negative for corona-, corona-like, and rotavirus. A haemolytic E. coli strain was isolated in one case. As for treatment, good results were obtained by the adding of 1 kg amproleum pre-mix per ton sow feed. Scouring pigs were treated orally with 2 cc of an amprol solution once a day. The diarrhea stopped one day after treatment.